This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Skip Navigation skip menu and banner
University of Wyoming

Zach and Amy Moore's Peace Corps Expereince

Amy and Zach Moore spent two years living and working in the wilds of Mongolia, the land of Chinggis Khan. Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world and is emerging from the shadow of the Soviet Union. Mongolia’s nomadic culture and 21st century technology makes it a very interesting time to live and work there when herders with their animals in the countryside can call the markets on cell phones. Amy and Zach had to balance this cultural change while living in their ger (a traditional felt tent) and working in the community: Amy as an English teacher in the local high school and Zach as a Youth Development Volunteer with the Children’s Center and as an Environmental Volunteer with the Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium. Work provided an opportunity to interact with Mongolian friends and counterparts, and when work was over the two spent time with friends, helping with animals, drinking tea, traveling, and riding horses.

While living in Mongolia, Amy and Zach were able to take part in the full Mongolian experience from living in a traditional ger and eating the same foods to combing cashmere goats and surviving Mongolia’s harsh climate with an average winter temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit and a summer temperature of 90 degrees F. Their favorite part of the country was the wide-open landscapes, the warmth and hospitality of the people, and the holidays and festivals, especially the summer sports festival, Naadam, and the Lunar New Year, Tsagaan Sar.

Peace Corps in Mongolia also provided a unique experience to try new things like Airag (fermented mares milk) and Aarul (dried milk curds) as well as learn Mongolian and live in a part of the world that few people in the west have seen. It also provided the opportunity to complete a Master’s degree with Amy focusing on Life-Skills for At-Risk Youth in Mongolia’s high schools and Zach focusing on the Environmental Assessment Process in Mongolia. The two have since completed their service, are working on their papers, and greatly miss the wide-open vistas and warm hospitality of the Mongolian people.

A view of the landscape and the town of Zuunmod from the Bogd Khan special protected area.
A pasture near Zuunmod
Zach exchanging snuff bottles with an elderly man during Tsagaan Sar.